To ask myself if I know Jesus as a friend I first need to ask what it means to have a friend.

One definition of friend is “Friendship for most people is a combination of affection, loyalty, love, respect, and trust. The general traits of a friendship include similar interests, mutual respect and an attachment to each other, and in order to experience friendship, you need to have true friends. The emotional safety provided by friendship means not having to weigh your thoughts and measure words. True friendship is when someone knows you better than yourself and takes a position in your best interests in a crisis. Friendship goes beyond just sharing time together, and it is long lasting”

http://friends.com/definition-of-friendship

Friend are described as contacts on Facebook, people we follow all their good times but rarely speak to and have not seen for many years.

Understanding how I see a friend and what it means helps me understand what it means to let Jesus be my real friend.

To me, being a friend to someone is that it is unconditional, and whatever they need, I will be there for them. To help support and celebrate with them but ask for nothing in return.

Can I say that I know Jesus in this way

Jesus said

John 15:11-15 MSG

[11-15] "I've told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I'm no longer calling you servants because servants don't understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I've named you friends because I've let you in on everything I've heard from the Father.

WOW!

Why am I not turning to Jesus and letting him tell me everything he has heard from the Father? He gave his life for me. I hear it, but do I understand it? What would my life look like if Jesus had not died for me and risen again and gone to the Father?

It is terrifying to think of my life without God saving me every time I get into trouble or when my life goes through the motions.

I have to start now and start going as the song says

“What a privilege to carry,   Everything to God in prayer! Oh, what peace we often forfeit,  Oh, what needless pain we bear All because we do not carry   Everything to God in prayer”

Do you see what is jumping off those words? What peace do we often forfeit? We have a friend there just waiting for us to come to him and ask for help. We, as stubborn humans, say we can do this ourselves. How much peace in life have we lost when we have struggled, when Jesus was there saying, "Friend, I am here to carry you or help you."

At one point in my business life, we were having a really difficult time due to some customers not paying, and almost everything seemed lost; then, one night, I heard Jesus saying, “I am here for you.”

There is a modern Christian song that says

“Jesus at the center of it all,  Jesus at the center of it all.   From beginning to the end.  It will always be, it's always been You Jesus, Jesus Nothing else matters, Nothing in this world will do  'Cause Jesus You're the center,  Everything revolves around You,  Jesus You, At the center of it all, At the center of it all” by Darlene Zschech Hillsong Music

This song just rattled me as I had not remembered who was my friend or what a friend I had in Jesus. We almost lost everything, but My friend was there, and I had to just say “Jesus, you are the centre of it all”. Another Christian song that kept just coming back to me was “ All to Jesus I Surrender. “

All to Jesus I surrender, All to Him I freely give;  I will ever love and trust Him,  In His presence daily live.   I surrender all,   I surrender all.   All to Thee, my blessed Savior,   I surrender all.  All to Jesus I surrender, Humbly at His feet I bow, Worldly pleasures all forsaken;  Take me, Jesus, take me now.  All to Jesus I surrender, Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;  Let me feel Thy Holy Spirit, Truly know that Thou art mine.

All to Jesus I surrender, Lord, I give myself to Thee; Fill me with Thy love and power, Let Thy blessing fall on me.  All to Jesus I surrender, Now, I feel the sacred flame. Oh, the joy of full salvation!  Glory, glory to His name!  Copyright: Lyrics © Original Writer and Publisher source: https://www.lyricsondemand.com/miscellaneouslyrics/christianlyrics/alltojesusisurrenderlyrics.html

Discovering or remembering this song broke me. I could never say this as I did not want to lose control. What a stubborn fool I had been for all those years. Daily, I need to remind myself that “All to Jesus I surrender,” and that means everything.

When I can do this, I will truly understand what it means to have a friend like Jesus. Jesus has not changed, or has he done anything else, or does he need to do anything else? He has done it all. It needs me to do it, and oh, how I need the Holy Spirit to help me do this.

When I finally let go of my selfish independence and surrender my need to control everything, I will truly experience the depth of what it means to have Jesus as my friend. No longer will I rely solely on my own strength, but instead, I will walk in the peace, love, and guidance that comes from a friendship with Him. Oh, what a joy it will be to not just say that Jesus is my friend, but to live in the fullness of that relationship—knowing He is always by my side, leading me, supporting me, and loving me unconditionally.